A recent study in South Africa shows that nearly all pharmacists sell emergency contraception (EC), available without a prescription, and most have accurate knowledge of the dosage, side effects and how to use EC. Fewer than half, however, do not believe the method should be available to women younger than 18 and more than half mistakenly believe that repeated use poses health risks. Misperceptions about the method and personal opinions about who should use it may affect women’s access to the pills.
About one in three pharmacists interviewed as part of a study of 34 pharmacists practicing in Soweto and the Johannesburg Central Business District admitted that they did not offer the pills to clients less than 18 years old. Several pharmacists said they felt use of the pills promoted promiscuity, repeat use and increased the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. One commented that the method "encourages people not to use precautions."
There is no evidence to support these beliefs. If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, EC (commonly called the morning after pill) can reduce a woman’s risk of pregnancy by at least 75%. The Guttmacher Institute estimated that use of emergency contraception in the United States averted over 100,000 unintended pregnancies in 2000.
Overall, the South African pharmacists interviewed were willing to provide clients with educational material. One-fifth reported that they provide clients with written materials on EC, and nearly two-thirds counseled clients on pregnancy prevention. Almost one in three offered educational materials on prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
These findings from South Africa support the need for interventions aimed at educating pharmacists about the benefits of EC, especially for adolescents and underscore the role of pharmacists in raising women’s awareness of EC.
The article "Pharmacists’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Emergency Contraceptive Pills in Soweto and the Johannesburg Central Business District, South Africa," by Kelly Blanchard of Ibis Reproductive Health, et al., appears in the December 2005 issue of International Family Planning Perspectives. Also in this issue:
"Promoting Informed Choice: Evaluating a Decision-Making Tool for Family Planning Clients and Providers in Mexico," by Young Mi Kim of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, et al.
"Pregnancy Intentions Among Salvadoran Fathers: Results from the 2003 National Male Reproductive Health Survey," by Marion Carter of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, and Ilene S. Speizer of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
"The Incidence of Abortion in Uganda,"by Susheela Singh of the Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY, et al.
"Gender and Relationship Differences in Condom Use Among 15–24-Year Olds in Angola," by Ndola Prata of the University of California, Berkeley, CA, et al.